Lost?

By Tiger Yang

Eight problematic teenagers from different backgrounds and social status joined a survival camp their teacher is Mr. Bob. But on the way to the island, the plane crashed.

Unfortunately, right after the plane crash, the pilot Capt. Mark died. Their teacher died after a period of time because of a box jellyfish. Following the death of Mr. Bob, the teenagers were transported to other places in the world in pairs.

Will they come back home alive? Read this book to find out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798369404935

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 by Tiger Yang.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/15/2023

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

854794

Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Dedication

To my mom and dad, for enduring the 3 years it took me to write this book. And for their continued support in my times of ups and downs.

To my brother, Tico, thank you for all the inspiring ideas and advice you’ve endowed to me throughout the whole process.

And to my young sister, Tiffany, for just being there.

Prologue

Mr. Ford hated wearing his lab coat. He was more of a suit-guy. He decided to take a long lunch break but before he left, he injected 20ml of the experimental concoction that Dr. Zuce mixed to subject CY879. The doctor told Mr. Ford not to touch it before he left for the day. He emphasized that the liquid would make any creature stronger and larger. Mr. Ford did not take his words as a big deal thinking – large and strong? It would just stimulate and make this monkey taller. The monkey won’t grow too big.

Mr. Ford left the lab and got on his car. There he listened to music while he smoked. He also decided to take a short nap. Mr. Ford was already asleep when his phone started ringing.

Hey, Zuce. What’s th…

What in the world did you do? Didn’t I warn you to not touch my liquid?

Calm down, Zuce. I just used 20ml. You still got plenty left, said Mr. Ford.

What!? 20ml of mixture is already enough to turn CY870 into a deadly creature. I only used like 2-3ml of it to turn a mouse as big as a cat, said Dr. Zuce.

I’m receiving alerts from the lab’s security system. Whatever creature you injected the liquid with should now be breaking things all over the lab, he added.

But not to worry. I just knew that something like this might happen so I added a system that could spray knockout gas all over so now GET INSIDE! I told you before, put that creature in the box. It should be in the cabinet under the sink, concluded Dr. Zuce.

Okay.

Mr. Ford ended the call, he put on his mask and laboratory coat, and went inside the lab. There he saw the monkey that he injected with the fluid. It was huge, and out of its cage. It was unconscious on the floor.

Mr. Ford looked around, and found the box under the sink. It was a cage that has no holes on the side. The sides were made of metal that is 10 centimeters thick. Mr. Ford slowly put CY879’s body in the cage. He locked the cage and dragged it outside the door.

Dr. Zuce arrived and called Mr. Ford. Together they placed the cage in the boot of the car.

I’ll get back to you later, Ford, said Dr. Zuce. He gave Mr. Ford a long stare then got on his car.

Mr. Ford stood beside the door. He watched the car screeched out of the yard then quickly vanished from sight.

Hmm… seems serious but none of my business, he thought.

I’ll be taking a long nap in the car.

*  *  *  *  *

Dr. Zuce raced towards Dr. Gazel’s house. As he blindly turned to a curve looking down on a precarious ravine with only a stretch of rail guard separating his BMW and a 250-meter fall, he dialed his friend’s phone.

Hello?

Dr. Zuce was erratically explaining to Dr. Gazel what Mr. Ford had done and that he needed his friend’s help.

Dr. Gazel owned a helicopter parked in is expansive estate like a grand showcase to his success. Dr. Zuce asked Dr. Gazel for a life-and-death favor. Dr. Zuce was to fly over the ocean so they can throw the cage in its depth.

Atop the hill, Dr. Zuce can already see Dr. Gazel’s impressive villa. He drove onto the main driveway, rushed out of his car and waved at Dr. Gazel, who was already preparing to start the copter’s engines.

On the way towards the ocean, the metal box started wiggling. Dr. Zuce quickly realized that the tranquilizer was no longer working on the monkey. He put the cage beside him and had his left arm on top of it. Dr. Zuce guessed that the creature has a second form that he could transform to when he gets angry. After while the creature inside the box started scratching the box. The screeching got louder then soon a bloody and pointy stick broke out of the cage. It pierced through the Dr. Zuce’s left arm.

**** this thing just attacked me, shouted Dr. Zuce.

Now, throw it away! said Dr. Gazel.

Zuce adjusted his position then kicked the box out from the plane. Dr. Gazel handed him the first aid kit.

Pour some alcohol then bandage it, said Dr. Gazel.

I’m pretty sure that his blood got into mine, said Dr. Zuce. After his words he felt dizzy and suddenly got a high fever.

Hey you OK? asked Dr. Gazel.

No response.

Dr. Gazel turned back to check Dr. Zuce. He has his eyes closed slumped down on the seat. He flew the helicopter back to his property. He helped Dr. Zuce to his car. He drove Dr. Zuce to his personal doctor. In the room, the doctor first gave Dr. Zuce some pills to alleviate the infection. He also had a pack of ice on Dr. Zuce’s forehead. But after a while Zuce’s blood pressure increased at an incredible rate. After that his heartbeat stopped.

He’s DEAD, said the doctor.

I’m burning his body right now. There is a kind of virus that I never saw before.

Agreed.

The doctor carefully collected Dr. Zuce’s ashes. He put them in a jar that has 500ml of alcohol. Then he closed the lid.

Never ever open this jar. said the doctor.

Stay by yourself these days. You and I may already got the virus. added the doctor.

I’ll do a test then tell you if this virus infected people through the air or only if the virus got in your blood. said the doctor.

Is it that serious? asked Dr. Gazel.

EXTREMELY, said the doctor.

Well you know what, you’re not getting out of this room. We can leave after the results come out, said Dr. Gazel.

If you don’t obey, I’ll have to lock you up in a room.

I’m your boss, and you don’t speak like that, said Dr. Gazel.

Now this virus is new! You know what that means? That means you could name it to whoever we just cremated. said the doctor.

Chapter 1

Logan was underwater off the coast of Tinakula in the southwest Pacific group of Solomon Islands gasping for precious air. As he surfaced, he looked for something to hold on and grabbed the nearest floating debris. As he looked around, he saw Chelsea and Kirk in their bright orange life-jackets.

Logan called out to them, Are you OK?

Kirk shouted back, I’m okay but I think Chelsea isn’t! Swim over here and help me!

Logan swam as fast as he could towards Kirk. When he reached them, he saw Kirk holding Chelsea afloat with both arms. He almost swallowed seawater when he saw a long metal rod protruding from Chelsea’s leg.

Logan got very frightened but he stayed as calm as he could. Logan suggested to Kirk that they first pull her to the shore then look for other survivors. Kirk brought Chelsea to the shore where Megan, Bo, Stella, Ben and Jake were already grouped around the twisted body of the pilot.

Everyone knew that the pilot wouldn’t survive.

Everything was a mess. The plane crashed and the pilot was incapacitated. The worst thing was they still hadn’t found their teacher, Mr. Bob.

The pilot died after a few hours, and Bo found their teacher on the beach some distance away. Bo immediately ran towards the teacher hoping he was okay. He dragged Mr. Bob further in near the tree line.

At dusk, everyone was sitting beside Mr. Bob.

They’ve already built a bonfire. No one was talking, and everyone was just staring at each other. It was Logan who spoke first.

I’m pretty sure there is no one else on this island, right?

Yes, I don’t think there is anyone else, replied Megan.

What are we going to eat?

How will we get out of here?

Will the island have all of the supplies we need?"

Is there anyone else on the island? Maybe we can get help.

After a rapid succession of questions, the teenagers became quiet again. They were asking Mr. Bob all sorts of questions.

Finally, Mr. Bob said, I honestly have no idea where we are but I think I lost my medication. I hope we can find someone else in this island tomorrow. It’s late already.

Mr. Bob was struggling to lean on a log to get some rest. Chelsea couldn’t sleep either. She still had a metal piece sticking out of her leg. She told everybody what she thought about pulling it out.

Is anyone still awake? Can someone help me take this thing off from my leg?

I’m not asleep, answered Jake.

I’m also awake. Who sleeps in a situation like this? added Stella.

That’s the thing. We aren’t getting any sleep tonight, said Logan.

Bo and Ben were quietly listening to the others.

I bet someone needs to hold Chelsea down. It’s gonna hurt like no other pain can hurt said Logan.

But who’s going to yank it out? asked Bo. Not me. Definitely not me, answered Logan. Me neither, confessed Megan.

Well, if no one’s gonna do it, I can try, volunteered Jake.

Chelsea, at first, thought the idea of Jake pulling the rod from her leg was not something she could agree with but the pain she was feeling was too unbearable so she consented.

Everyone were in place and Jake was all ready to pull the metal out. Megan, Logan, Bo and Ben were holding Chelsea’s legs and hands firmly to the ground and Bo advised Chelsea to bite on a piece of wood to make sure that she wouldn’t scream so loud or bite her tongue.

Jake started counting backwards, THREE, TWO, …!

And as quickly as he could, he yanked the rod out and blood spurted out. Chelsea used her last strength and will to stay conscious but finally succumb, and she fainted.

Mr. Bob was watching the group and he advised them, Y...ou ne...ed to cau...te...rize the wou...nd. And...go fi...find aleo ve…vera.

The kids were shocked. They had no idea what they were supposed to do, and what an aloe vera looked like.

Mr. Bob struggled to move around but he got hold of the metal rod and brought it closer to the bonfire.

Everyone watched as it slowly turned red.

Jake spoke, I remember seeing one in my science class. The teacher showed us one. It’s spiky and it ain’t a flower. It is green, and after you open it, it’s super gooey. Let’s try and find one tomorrow. Now, does anyone have a piece of cloth?

I can rip a piece off from my shirt, said Logan.

Mr. Bob wrapped a piece of cloth around his hand and took the searing metal rod.

What are you going to do with that? asked Megan.

I’m going to cauterize Chelsea’s wound so it doesn’t get infected, explained Mr. Bob.

I’m so sorry Chelsea.

Mr. Bob carefully brought the metal and placed it on Chelsea’s gaping wound.

Chelsea screamed like they never heard her scream before, and she fainted.

Logan ripped a large piece off his shirt and wrapped it around Chelsea’s leg. Chelsea was still breathing and she seemed to be already asleep as evident from her snores.

It was midnight, and Megan was quietly sobbing. She noticed blood stain on the shirt wrapped around Chelsea’s leg but she wasn’t crying because of that. She was crying because she had never been in this situation before, not even in a summer camp, and she was very, very afraid. She soon stopped and tried to sleep. She didn’t know what to do, and she is with a bunch of teenagers that she only got acquainted with some 10 hours ago.

Chelsea woke up frightened in the middle of the night. She just had a nightmare. She recalled she was still at the Van Nuys Airport, where she was waiting for the other kids to go on a summer survival camp to learn some outdoor skills.

She heard from her homeroom teacher that the trip counselor’s name was Mr. Bob.

Mr. Bob had a heart disease that no one in the group knew. A few months ago, he went for a complete physical checkup and was diagnosed with a heart-valve defect.

He knew that the cost of the treatment was going to be expensive and he needed to figure out a way to